30 video game gifts you’ll want most this Christmas

It's that time again, the most wonderful time of the year to be a gamer.

And the gaming scene doesn't get much better than a 2017 that had something for everyone. From retro gamers to graphics snobs to fighting game lovers to in-depth role-playing fans, there's something that belongs on a Christmas list for every gamer this holiday, as gaming pushed to new levels of visual fidelity and found a host of new ideas.

Advertisement

Not sure what to get that special gaming someone? These 40 options should have you covered.

SUPER NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM (NES) CLASSIC EDITION

Another Christmas,, another nostalgic retro console from the company that took gaming mainstream in the 1990s. The Super Nintendo Classic Edition will run you $79.99, but the price is worth it for this miniaturized version of the classic SNES console, which comes with two controllers and 21 games from yesteryear, including Super Mario World and Zelda: A Link to the Past, one of the finest games ever. Bonus: You also get the never-before-released Star Fox 2. Another bonus? Whoever unwraps this on Christmas will be one of the rare few to score a machine that's flying off store shelves.

The most powerful gaming console on the market will run you $499, but it brings gaming chops to hang in the present (check out Gears of War 4 in 4K), and enough horsepower (6 teraflops) to keep on trucking for years into the future. If you know somebody who owns a 4K TV, this console could be the one for them.

Know somebody who's tired of playing Flappy Bird on their iPhone? That's the person who will love the Nintendo Switch, a next-gen machine that blends terrific game quality with portability. Games look great on the big screen, as well as the little one you take with you, and a library that includes Mario, Zelda and Tetris will tug at anyone's nostalgic feelings.

The second year of Sony's VR platform is the year to buy in. If your gamer doesn't have a VR headset but does have a PlayStation 4, consider this $199 VR set, which will instantly allow entry into the immersive world of VR. And it will come just in time for some of the most immersive VR experiences out there: Skyrim VR just arrived and Fallout and Doom VR versions are on the horizon.

Horizon: New Dawn (Guerrilla Games)

HORIZON: NEW DAWN

Sony's fine open-world adventure just may be the finest game of 2017. Play as strong-willed, brave protagonist Aloy in a title that marries dinosaurs and technology to a lush world that comes to life on the PlayStation 4. Has the gamer in your life already experienced Horizon? Get them the Frozen Wilds expansion, which arrived in the fall.

Link is back on the Nintendo Switch, in the console's defining title, and a title that plays as well on the road as it does in your home. Expect oodles of exploration and plenty of ideas inspired by RPGs such as Skyrim. And whoever you get this for? Don't expect to see them for a month after they unwrap this gift.

SUPER MARIO ODYSSEY

Advertisement

Nintendo's signature character makes his true debut on the new Nintendo Switch console, and it's a strong debut. This new Mario adventure has the platforming that the old-school gamer in your life will love, while blending motion-controlled actions that younger gamers will dig and Zelda-like exploration that brings the old Nintendo hero into the modern gaming era.

Bungie's follow-up to the original Destiny finally marries the franchise's excellent multiplayer gameplay and looting to a story just compelling enough to keep you interested. Crisp visuals and more multiplayer activities complete a package that rocks on both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Know a PC gamer who's interested in the franchise? Bungie has them covered, too, with a Destiny 2 computer version that's surprisingly scale-able to a bevy of different machines.

South Park: The Fractured but Whole (Ubisoft)

SOUTH PARK: THE FRACTURED BUT WHOLE

Not every video game experience needs to be serious. Ubisoft's second South Park game is a reminder of that, delivering another story that will have you smiling when you're not rolling on your floor in laughter or winking at the wry, intelligent humor. Solid turn-based RPG mechanics underlie the entire experience, making for one of the year's' best titles.

WOLFENSTEIN II: THE NEW COLOSSUS

Bethesda's fine first-person shooter is a title for the thinker in your life, a first-person shooter with plenty of subtext in its story and a host of details you'll want to appreciate. A cover system and some smart stealth lend gameplay variety to a title with a potent tale to tell.

The Lord of The Rings universe lives on in this Xbox One/PlayStation 4 title. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment once again melds Batman: Arkham-style combat with a battle through Middle Earth that includes more orcs than you've ever seen, and oodles of replay value, thanks to the Nemesis system, which makes every game different than your last.

This one's for the superhero fan in your life. This fighting game is powered by everyone's favorite DC Comics stars (think Superman, Flash and Wonder Woman), and tried-and-true fighting game mechanics, and its story is as deep as anything you'll see in the movie theater this year (or, depending what you thought of "Justice League," even deeper). With outstanding replay value and a large base of gamers, it's a gift that'll keep on giving.

DC's not the only one in this year's comic fighter game. Capcom's Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite revamps the franchise with 3D visuals and juicy fast-paced action. Not sure if your gamer can learn fighting game combos? Don't fret: Infinite includes a host of simplified controls so everyone can get in on the fun.

Nathan Drake is done, but that doesn't stop Sony from delivering yet another Uncharted, this one featuring a pair of new stars. Protagonists Chloe and Nadine are as compelling as the old lead in a story that captivates, just as this franchise always has. A must-own for PS4 gamers who love strong stories.

METROID: SAMUS RETURNS

If you know somebody who owns a Nintendo 3DS, this is the game for them. This is classic Nintendo 2D platforming gaming from the franchise that spawned a genre (you've heard of Metroid-Vania, right?). And it's loads of fun.

CALL OF DUTY: WW II

The Call of Duty franchise makes a triumphant return to the past in this game that has you feeling all the camaraderie and intensity of a platoon. No COD game has had a story this impactful, but Sledgehammer Games doesn't skimp on other slices of gaming goodness either; Zombies mode is as good as ever, and there's plenty of multiplayer action, too.

For the history buff in your life. The latest Assassin's Creed takes the franchise back to the Cradle of Civilization for action in Egypt and delivers revamped gameplay to go with it. The tale winds up impressive, and the imagining of Egypt is worth experiencing.

The Need For Speed franchise heads back to its Underground roots and back to an open-world street filled with races and chases, and the formula still works. This one isn't just for the racer in your life, though; it's for anyone who loves "The Fast and the Furious"; EA works overtime to deliver a story that's actually worth gamers' time, and these cutscenes actually keep you invested in the tale.

Know an older sports fan? This one's for them. NBA 2K18 continues Visual Concepts' run of excellent basketball video games and adds in a nostalgic flourish: The inclusion of all-time greats teams for every franchise. Even if the NBA fan in your life doesn't play Franchise modes, expect to hear plenty about how the Timberwolves all-time team is off, and the Thunder all-time team is spot-on.

For the gamer who's still reliving that fantastic Astros-Dodgers World Series, let them play through The Show, the best baseball video game on the market. Sony's PlayStation 4-exclusive franchise delivers more baseball depth than ever and finely tuned hitting and pitching interfaces.

ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM SWITCH

The five-year-old, Xbox 360-era game still has it. And now, gamers can take it on the go. Bethesda refreshes its classic for the Nintendo Switch, delivering the definitive version of a game that can include hundreds of hours of gameplay. Everything is in this version, which gamers will never stop playing.

STAR WARS: BATTLEFRONT 2

Yes, this game has taken a bunch of heat for going way too deep into microtransactions, but much of that's been corrected. What's left is a game with a surprisingly worthwhile story (that also functions as a quick tutorial), and terrific multiplayer action, especially for Star Wars fans who want to hop in X-Wing fighters. And with "The Last Jedi" on the horizon . . .

CUPHEAD

This Xbox One exclusive makes for a perfect downloadable code to stuff in a stocking for any gamer ready to absorb a near-insurmountable challenge, or for gamers who remember Bugs Bunny's heyday. The platforming is brutal, requiring all the quick-twitch skills of the 8-bit era, but the aesthetic is impossible to not love, channeling classic Looney Tunes cartoons. It's platforming nirvana in all the best (and hardest) ways.

PERSONA 5

This is, hands down, the finest Japanese-style role-playing game of the year, and it very well may be the best of the decade. You've never played an RPG that oozes style like this, and while the story forces you into linear gameplay, it's compelling enough to keep you interested nevertheless. Take note: It's a PlayStation 4 exclusive.

XCOM War of the Chosen (2K Games)

XCOM 2: WAR OF THE CHOSEN

Technically, this is a $39.99 PC game expansion, not a full game. But it might as well be a full-fledged title of its own, because it completely revamps every bit of last year's XCOM 2, adding three new factions, new enemies and a host of new story elements. The end result: A turn-based strategy masterpiece that any tactical strategy gaming fan will love, and the finest PC-exclusive title in 2017.

Can a football video game tell a story? That's exactly what this year's NFL game tries to do, and while it's not the finest story by any means, football fans will dig the new Longshot mode. Even if they don't, they'll love the classic Madden gameplay, which continues to be stellar. Grab it now, so the NFL fan in your life can play it on Saturdays before watching the playoffs on Sundays.

Nintendo's clamshell portable console kept on ticking in 2017, and this latest console refresh, just $149, is its finest hour. No, it doesn't have 3D, but it has a solid price tag, along with a massive library of games and plenty of style. Don't feel like buying a Switch for somebody but want them playing portable games? This is the machine to target.

MICROSOFT SURFACE BOOK

No laptop line blends gaming chops, productivity tools and portability better than the Surface Book line. The Surface Book 2 line, just released, oozes power, and thanks to its arrival, you can now find bargains on the first Surface Book. Use that to your advantage to grab an original Surface Book; if you target one with dedicated graphics, it will run most games, play well with Xbox Play Anywhere, and make some gamer very happy when it's unwrapped.

EPSON LS100

There are 4K TVs, and then there's this unique device from Epson, which offers massive screen real estate for $2,999. It's no ordinary projector; short throw projectors project massive images just inches in front of them, offering unique convenience in a somewhat portable footprint. It's the alternative to the big TV for gamers who want massive wall displays; just make sure your special someone has a perfectly flat wall for this to work well.

Advertisement

ASTRO A20 GAMING HEADSET

Get this headset for the gamer in your life who's always playing online games. This headset features a budget price ($149) without budget quality; it feels great with soft, comfy over-ear earcups, and it delivers deep, quality sound. If you head to bed early and don't want to hear your gamer (or the games), this wireless unit will be a gift for you, too.